[2018] UGSC 85

[2018] UGSC 85

The Supreme Court held that the slip rule is only applicable in two circumstances: where the court is giving effect to its intention at the time of judgment, or where a matter was overlooked and it is clear what order would have been made. The Court found no accidental slip or omission in its previous judgment regarding the applicant's sentence, nor any overlooked matter that would justify a review. The application was deemed to have no merit and was dismissed, reaffirming the finality of the Supreme Court's decisions except in the narrow circumstances permitted by the slip rule.

Citation
[2018] UGSC 85
Parties
Applicant: Okello Geoffrey; Respondent: Uganda
Court
Supreme Court of Uganda
Jurisdiction
Uganda
Judgment Date
26 April 2018
Case Number
Criminal Application 6 of 2017
Procedural Posture
Criminal Application / Ruling on Application for Review of Judgment
Outcome
application dismissed
Judges
Katureebe, CJ, Arach-Amoko, JSC, Opio-Aweri, JSC, Mugamba, JSC, Buteera, JSC
Legal Topics
Review of Judgment, Slip Rule, Remand Period, Finality of Judgments
Source Language
English
Criminal Law Civil Procedure Review of Judgment Slip Rule Remand Period Finality of Judgments

Case Brief

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Parties

Okello Geoffrey

Applicant

Uganda

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Criminal Application / Ruling on Application for Review of Judgment

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the Supreme Court can review its own judgment under the slip rule to account for the period spent on remand.
  2. 2 Whether there was an accidental slip or omission in the judgment regarding the applicant's sentence.

Ratio Decidendi

The Supreme Court held that the slip rule is only applicable in two circumstances: where the court is giving effect to its intention at the time of judgment, or where a matter was overlooked and it is clear what order would have been made. The Court found no accidental slip or omission in its previous judgment regarding the applicant's sentence, nor any overlooked matter that would justify a review. The application was deemed to have no merit and was dismissed, reaffirming the finality of the Supreme Court's decisions except in the narrow circumstances permitted by the slip rule.

Court Disposition

application dismissed

Orders

  • The application for review is dismissed.